Humboldt Senior High School

Humboldt Senior High School
Address
30 E. Baker Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55107
United States
Coordinates 44°55′31″N 93°05′01″W / 44.9253°N 93.0836°WCoordinates: 44°55′31″N 93°05′01″W / 44.9253°N 93.0836°W
Information
School type public, high school
Opened 1889
School district Saint Paul Public Schools
Superintendent Valeria Silva[1]
Principal Mike Sodomka[2]
Faculty 112[2]
Grades 6th–12th
Gender coed
Enrollment 483[3] (2009–10)
Campus type urban
Color(s)      orange
     black[3]
Song Harvard Nirvana[3]
Athletics conference Saint Paul City Conference
Team name Hawks[3]
Publication West Wind[4]
Newspaper Humboldt News[5]
Website http://humboldtsr.spps.org/

Humboldt Senior High School is a public high school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota which serves students in grades 6-12. The school is the smallest of the seven high schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools district with an enrollment of 858 students. It is the only high school located on the West Side of Saint Paul. The school was founded in 1889 and is one of the oldest in Saint Paul. A founding member of the Saint Paul City Conference, Humboldt fields regular and adapted sports teams.

Humboldt has a large percentage of low-income students and has struggled on national standardized tests. The school shares facilities with Humboldt Junior High School and both schools have a program focus on environmental studies and career preparation. The school offers a number of college prep classes and has several programs to help low-income students prepare and attend college.

History

The original 1889 building
1909 building as seen in 1920

Humboldt opened for the 1889-1890 school year in a 316,000 square feet (29,400 m2) building, built in 1888.[6][7] The school was the first high school on the West Side and the only one to be built since. The original building housed the school for twenty-three years, until 1909 when a new building was built.[8] Additions were made to the 1909 structure in 1924 and 1959.[6][9] In 1971 there was talk of closing the school.[10] As a result of the campaign to keep the school open the latest portion of the building was built in 1976.[6]

In the 1999-2000 school year Humboldt was placed on academic probation by Saint Paul Public Schools due to low test scores.[11] A related report stated problems for the junior high as: "Poor attendance and a huge tardiness problem. Teacher competency varies. Technology is not meaningfully worked into instruction. School needs its own principal, not shared with the high school" and problems for the high school included "Too many students do not take school seriously. Many staff members set low expectations for students."[12] The following year Humboldt posted some of the largest gains in a state standardized tenth grade writing test. Competency increased from 58% to 75%.[13] In June 2001 the junior high was placed off probation but the high school remained on.[14][15]

In 2005 plans were approved to give Humboldt a $1.4 million upgrade to the school's athletic facilities. A new artificial turf stadium with new bleachers and a new scoreboard was built. Soccer, football and softball fields received upgrades.[16][17][18] The project was part of a larger plan intended to boost enrollment especially from the local neighborhood.[19]

As part of No Child Left Behind Act Humboldt Junior High needed restructuring for the 2009–2010 school year as a result of continual low test scores and not making Adequate Yearly Progress.[20] The high school portion was restructured as well because of its alignment with the junior high.[21] As part of the restructuring 23 teachers were transferred from the school and a new program focus was created.[22][23]

Curriculum

Humboldt is a comprehensive high school and offers courses for college preparation and vocational training. Humboldt offers Advanced Placement classes as well as College in the Schools classes[24] Students are able to enroll in PSEO classes at local colleges and universities. Two languages, French and Spanish, and American Sign Language classes are offered.[25] There are several different programs to help low income students attend college including AVID, Admission Possible and Upward Bound.[25]

The school has had a number of different program focuses throughout the years and has struggled to have a clear identity.[26] In 1987, there were plans for an international careers program at Humboldt.[27] In 2002 Humboldt applied grant money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish several Small Learning Communities (SLCs).[28] The $450,000 grant created four SLCs; ninth-grade academy, community leadership academy, humanities academy, and a science, engineering and technology academy.[29][30] The SLCs are no longer in place.[25] Since the 2009-2009 school years Humboldt has partnered with Humboldt Junior High School creating a grade 7-12 program focusing on environmental science and career preparation.[26][31][32]

Humboldt is one of only six schools in the state of Minnesota to have an Army JROTC unit.[33] The program began in 1994.[34] The school has community partnerships with several local colleges including: University of Minnesota, Hamline University, St. Olaf College, University of St. Thomas, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. It has business partnerships with local companies such as Ecolab and The Travelers Companies. There are Family And Consumer Science (FACS) classes, urban journalism classes and the school has an automotive repair program.[25] Band and choir classes are offered. There are a number of extracurricular clubs including diversity clubs and Friendship club.[35] English Language Learners (ELL) classes are also offered.[36]

Students

Humboldt is the smallest high school in the Saint Paul Public School District.[37] The school's neighborhood attendance area covers all of the West Side of Saint Paul and stretches across the Mississippi river to cover Downtown Saint Paul and portions of the West Seventh neighborhood.[25] The school has struggled to attract local students with only 30% of high school aged kids on the West Side attending Humboldt. A large proportion of students come from outside the neighborhood with only 37% of students being neighborhood kids. When attendance at the school declined students who could not fit into their neighborhood schools were sent to Humboldt as well as students who had been kicked out of other schools.[19]

As of the 2006-2007 school year, Humboldt enrolled 898 students. The plurality were Black, at 41%, with Hispanics, 20% and Asians, 19% being the other major ethnic groups. 17% of students identified as White. The school has the second highest rate of poverty in high schools from the Saint Paul Public School system with 80% of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Price Lunch. Free and Reduced Price Lunch is the measure of poverty for the district. The school has a large percentage of students who have limited English proficiency (39%). 24% of students qualify for special education. The school has an Adequate Yearly Progress graduation rate of 76% while only 43% of students who initially enroll graduate within four years. 41% of students had grade level reading proficiency and 8% of students had proficiency in mathematics.[38][39]

Student life

Sports

Humboldt is a member of the Minnesota State High School League.[40] competes in the Saint Paul City Conference. The school was one of the founding members of the Saint Paul City Conference.[41] Humboldt's football team has not had a winning season since 1975. The boys soccer team holds the three longest losing streaks in the City Conference with a 60-game losing streak stretching from 1997 to 2001. Since 2006 the boys soccer program has improved greatly. In 2007 the team won their first outright City Conference Championship since sharing the title with Central in 1987, the inaugural season.[42][43][44]

Humboldt offers nine boys' and nine girls' varsity sports. These include football (boys), wrestling (boys), tennis (boys and girls), basketball (boys and girls), baseball (boys), softball (girls), golf (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), volleyball (girls), badminton (girls), cross country (boys and girls) and track and field (boys and girls). Sports that are not offered at Humboldt are played in co-ops with other Saint Paul City Conference members.[45] The school fields adapted Softball, Soccer, Bowling and Floor Hockey teams for Physically Impaired and Cognitively Impaired students. The PI and CI teams represent the entire Saint Paul City Conference.[46]

Mascot

Humboldt's teams were formerly stylized as the "Indians". School officials spent months deciding whether to change the school's team name and mascot due to the continuing Native American mascot controversy.[47] In 1988, the school's Parent/Community Advisory Committee decided to keep the name after a 555 to 64 vote (90%).[48] The school then proceeded to add an Indian education curriculum.[49] There were several attempts to convince the Saint Paul School Board to keep the mascot.[50][51] In 1989, a committee of the school board asked that Humboldt change its logo after the State Board of Education requested all schools in Minnesota change their mascots. Local American Indians viewed the mascot as a "symbol of ethnic and community pride". A week later the school board required Humboldt to change its mascot.[52][53] The school hosted several rallies to try to save the mascot and held walk outs led by Native American students.[54][55] After the district asked the state Department of Education for assistance the state department deferred the decision to the district. The district then deferred the change to the community who voted to keep the mascot. The school board attempted to change the mascot again in 1992, when almost 88% of the school's Native American students voted to keep the name.[56] After four years the school board changed the school's name with the new logo, the Hawks, being used in the 1992–1993 school year.[57][58]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Office of the Superintendent". St. Paul Public Schools. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Staff Directory". Humboldt Senior High School. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Saint Paul Humboldt High School". Minnesota State High School League. 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Journalism". Humboldt Senior High School. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  5. ↑ "Humboldt News". Humboldt Senior High School. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Humboldt Secondary Complex". Humboldt High School.
  7. ↑ Statistics of Public, Society, and School Libraries Having 5,000 Volumes and over in 1908 United States Office of Education
  8. ↑ Rosenblum, Gene H. (2002). The lost Jewish community of the west side flats: 1882-1962. Dover, N.H: Arcadia Pub. pp. ppg. 80, 96. ISBN 0-7385-1986-3.
  9. ↑ Sigvertson, Jene T. From the Past to the Present: An Inventory of Saint Paul Public School Facilities. (PDF). Saint Paul Public Schools.
  10. ↑ Gilman, Rhoda R. (1991). The story of Minnesota's past. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 53. ISBN 0-87351-267-7.
  11. ↑ Shah, Allie (September 8, 1999). "11 St. Paul schools start year under shadow of probation - Superintendent's tough-love plan rates performances, seeks improvement.". Star Tribune.
  12. ↑ Shah, Allie (December 4, 1999). "Reports detail St. Paul school problems - Officials identify key weaknesses - from curriculum to health facilities - found in 11 schools that have been placed on probation .". Star Tribune.
  13. ↑ Tosto, Paul (May 10, 2001). "10TH-GRADERS BOOST WRITING SCORES- 92% PASS BASIC SKILLS TEST REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  14. ↑ Lindberg, Susan (July 5, 2001). "AT HUMBOLDT, MORALE IS LOW SINCE PROBATION //TEACHERS, STUDENTS HOPE SCHOOL CAN BOUNCE BACK". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  15. ↑ Her, Lucy (June 7, 2001). "7 St. Paul schools leave probation - They posted higher test scores, while four other schools must remain on list.". Star Tribune.
  16. ↑ Walsh, James (May 10, 2006). "Humboldt High on track to get new athletic facility". Star Tribune.
  17. ↑ Walsh, James (May 17, 2006). "Board approves reconstruction of Humboldt High field". Star Tribune.
  18. ↑ Walsh, James (January 11, 2006). "St. Paul high school gets some support - But parents, staff and other Humboldt High advocates think the school board could help them more.". Star Tribune.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Walsh, James (June 18, 2006). "Getting back in the game - After years of declining enrollment and other woes, St. Paul's smallest high school has new athletic fields , which parents and staff see as the first of better things to come.". Star Tribune.
  20. ↑ Johns, Emily (October 22, 2008). "Humboldt school struggles to regain parents' trust - As the St. Paul junior high prepares to be restructured under the No Child rules, parents want to know how this time will be different.". Star Tribune.
  21. ↑ Belden, Doug (February 8, 2009). "ST. PAUL SCHOOLS - REASSIGNED TEACHERS ASK FOR MORE SAY - ARLINGTON, HUMBOLDT TO BE RESTRUCTURED". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  22. ↑ Belden, Doug (June 10, 2010). "SHORTFALL COSTS 118 TEACHERS THEIR JOBS - 117 ON PROBATION, 1 TENURED TEACHER AMONG BIG CUTS". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  23. ↑ Johns, Emily (June 7, 2009). "Humboldt High hopes to regrow its reputation - The West Side senior high school is being revamped with a focus on environmental studies.". Star Tribune.
  24. ↑ "College in the Schools Participating Schools 2009-10" (PDF). University of Minnesota.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 "Humboldt Senior High School". Saint Paul Public Schools. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Walsh, James (February 3, 2008). "Humboldt schools to team up for success - The aim is for the high school to boost the struggling junior high through a joint environmental science and career prep program.". Star Tribune.
  27. ↑ Groat, Janet (June 19, 1987), "St. Paul school budget gets OK amid uncertainties", ,Star Tribune
  28. ↑ Welbes, John (December 13, 2002). "CITING MANY RESTRICTIONS, ST. PAUL SCHOOLS REJECT GRANT MONEY FROM GATES". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  29. ↑ WELBES, John (December 14, 2002). "HUMBOLDT EXPECTS TO GET GATES GRANT; ARLINGTON DOESN'T". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  30. ↑ WELBES, John (January 31, 2003). "HUMBOLDT HIGH SCHOOL TO RECEIVE GATES GRANT - FOUR CITY SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  31. ↑ Walsh, James (March 14, 2008). "Humboldt sets sights on students' futures - The St. Paul school is now creating two new tracks - one focusing on environmental studies, the other on college and career prep.". Star Tribune.
  32. ↑ Carew, Emma (October 12, 2010). "Ag teachers find fertile ground in city schools - More and more students are curious about what goes on at a farm - and at companies like Cargill.". Star Tribune.
  33. ↑ "State: MINNESOTA". United States Army JROCT.
  34. ↑ Walsh, James (July 28, 1993). "Panel backs having ROTC programs at 3 high schools". Star Tribune.
  35. ↑ Torres, Kristina (December 21, 1999). "OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS//MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB OF HUMBOLDT HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF EXISTENCE BY DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST: CARING.". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  36. ↑ "Humboldt Secondary School (Grades 7-12)". Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  37. ↑ The WPA guide to Minnesota. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society. 1985. p. 223. ISBN 0-87351-185-9.
  38. ↑ Humboldt Senior High Minnesota Department of Education. Retrieved on February 27, 2008
  39. ↑ High School Comparisons Choice Catalog Saint Paul Public Schools Retrieved on February 27, 2008
  40. ↑ Saint Paul Humboldt High School Minnesota State High School League
  41. ↑ History Saint Paul City Conference Retrieved on March 5, 2008
  42. ↑ Richardson, Ray (October 11, 2007). "HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER - REVIVAL ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP - AFTER 20 YEARS OF LOSING, HUMBOLDT NO. 1 IN SECTION 4A". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  43. ↑ Walsh, James (September 22, 2007). "THE PRIDE OF HUMBOLDT - The boys' undefeated soccer team has brought winning, camaraderie and acceptance to the small urban high school.". Star Tribune.
  44. ↑ Walsh, James (October 2, 2007). "Double OT loss ends Humboldt High's dreams of soccer perfection". Star Tribune.
  45. ↑ "Saint Paul Humboldt High School Activity Page". Minnesota State High School League. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  46. ↑ Wells, Jim (October 13, 1998). "AFTER TOUGH START, HAWKS ON RIGHT TRACK". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  47. ↑ Gonzalez, Diana Ettel (May 26, 1988), "Centennial, others consider dropping Indian symbols", Star Tribune
  48. ↑ Suzukamo, Les (April 13, 1989), "HUMBOLDT IS URGED TO DEVELOP NEW LOGO", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  49. ↑ June 1, 1988, "HUMBOLDT WANTS TO KEEP ITS INDIAN NAME", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  50. ↑ Furst, Randy (February 8, 1989), "Humboldt students plead to keep ` Indians ' nickname", Star Tribune
  51. ↑ Foster, Jim (February 16, 1989), " Schools take hard look at Indian nicknames - State official, MCLU demand change", Star Tribune
  52. ↑ (April 20, 1989), "HUMBOLDT TO DROP INDIAN LOGO", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  53. ↑ Livingston, Nancy (April 23, 1989), " MINNESOTA SCHOOLS STRUGGLING OVER INDIAN -THEME TEAM NAMES", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  54. ↑ Livingston, Nancy (September 25, 1989), "HUMBOLDT GROUP WANTS INDIAN SYMBOL", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  55. ↑ Livingston, Nancy (September 27, 1989), "HUMBOLDT STUDENTS RALLY FOR INDIAN NAME", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  56. ↑ Livingston, Nancy (February 12, 1992), "HUMBOLDT STUDENTS WANT TO KEEP ` INDIANS ' NAME, BUT GAINES FAVORS CHANGE", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  57. ↑ Walsh, James (May 19, 1992), "A new image - Humboldt High's hawk mascot to take flight in fall", Star Tribune
  58. ↑ Livingston, Nancy (May 23, 1992), "HUMBOLDT SAYS GOODBYE TO INDIAN LOGO// ANOTHER CEREMONY WILL MARK BEGINNING FOR NEW HAWK LOGO", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  59. ↑ Fermoyle, Mike (March 23, 1999). "FRITSCHE RECALLS HUMBOLDT'S WIN IN '49". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  60. ↑ "Jim Fritsche". biographical & statistical sketch. Basetkball Reference.com. 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2010. High School: Humboldt in Saint Paul, Minnesota
  61. ↑ Wells, Jim (December 13, 2002), "HUMBOLDT TO HONOR 1912 ATHLETE - HE IS BELIEVED TO BE ST. PAUL'S ONLY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS CASUALTY", Saint Paul Pioneer Press
  62. ↑ "Rollie Seltz basketball-reference.com profile". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  63. ↑ Wilson, Betty (June 9, 1986), "Ex-boy wonder Stassen tries for senior wonder", Star Tribune
  64. ↑ Millet, Larry (July 13, 1991). "MINNESOTA HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER KEN YACKEL DIES OF CANCER AT 61". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.

External links